If you have a question that you would like answered and added to this list please send it to sales@carolinafunmachines.com.

Question: I see a number of scooters advertised on craigslist for $649 to $899. Are these scooters any good?

Answer: When it comes to purchasing a scooter please remember you get what you pay for. The more you invest in a scooter the more you will be out riding it and not over talking with a mechanic about what is wrong with it now. The lower end scooters cost less because the manufacturers build the units using less expenseive parts and materials. As one of the few scooter dealers that offer all three levels of scooter quality we will speak openly with you about what you can expect from each level of quality. And with that knowlege you can make a decision on which quality is best for your current needs and situation.

Question: I’ve been looking at purchasing a used scooter I’ve seen on craigslist. What experience have you had with used scooters purchased off of craigslist?

Answer: Unfortunately for the most part it’s not been very good. We have used scooters coming into our shop that were purchased on craigslist that by the time we get all the problems worked out for the customer they end up having spent as much as one of our new scooters and they still don’t have a scooter with a warranty. Never buy a scooter that is not running and that you can ride before you purchase it.

Question: I recently saw someone advertising new scooters on craigslist made by Wildfire Motors with a 24 month warranty. What do you know about them?

Answer: I looked into this craigslist seller and found that it’s a person selling scooters from their house. They told me that the warranty was with the manufacturer located in Ohio and that they don’t have any parts or service locally for the scooters. Our experience tells us that this type of scooter seller only wants to sell you a scooter, make a few hundred dollars and then never see you again. All over Charlotte you have tire dealers and hardware stores selling scooters that have no parts or an experienced mechanic to work on them. In reality when you buy one of these scooters it has no warranty with the company selling it. The best way to purchase a scooter is from a local scooter dealer that has the experience and parts to honor the warranty and keep you a satisfied owner.

Question: How can you tell what quality a scooter is?

Answer: The easiest way to tell is by reviewing the warranty that comes with the scooter. Ask for a copy of the warranty. If the warranty is a manufacturer’s warranty and the manufacturer is located in China the warranty has very little value. A good medium quality scooter will come with at least a 1 year, 10,000 to unlimited mileage parts warranty and the high quality scooters will also include the labor. A few of the higher end scooters also come with 2 years of roadside assistance.

Question: Do you charge extra for freight, assembly and documentation fees?

Answer: There are a number of scooter dealers that advertise the price of their scooter and then when they write up the sales contract they add extra charges for these items. We have had a number of customers that have purchased from us that have told us other dealers advertised a price for the scooter and then charged as much as $199 for Documentation Fees and $598 for Freight and Assembly. At Carolina Fun Machines the price we list on our website for the scooter is the price that you pay. The only other charge we add to the price is the local sales tax. On scooters over 50cc, if you want us to handle the state inspection and DMV paperwork, we add the related inspection, title, registration and licensing fees.

Question: Can Carolina Fun Machines handle the paperwork with DMV or will I need to go to one of their offices and wait in line to get my scooter titled and licensed.

Answer: We can handle all of the DMV paperwork for you on scooters over 50cc and motorcycles. On the 50cc scooters you do have to go to your local DMV License Plate Office to register them. We have North Carolina license plates and registration tags at our dealership. With proof of insurance and a valid motorcycle license or learners permit we can deliver your scooter ready to ride. We will handle all the paperwork for you and deliver your scooter to you with your actual license plate and registration certificate.

Carolina Fun Machines is the area’s largest scooter dealership offering 21 different models of 50cc to 300cc scooters. If you read the scooter forums Znen are considered to be some of the best built scooters manufactured in China. Znen scooters come with a number of upgrades such as a YUASA battery and a Gates Rubber Powerlink drive belt. Because of the outstanding quality of the Znen scooters they come with a one year or 10,000 mile parts warranty.

Question: Are all Chinese Scooters the same?

Answer: Carolina Fun Machines has evaluated dozens of Chinese scooter manufacturers and assemblers. Most of them are of very poor quality because they are being built to sell at very cheap prices focused towards the very low end of the market.

These scooters are the ones that are sold with no warranty or a 30 day parts only warranty, usually from parts stores, used car dealers, tire dealerships and small independent scooter dealerships.

When Carolina Fun Machines sells a customer a scooter we are looking at building a long term relationship with the customer. So we pass up these cheaper scooter manufacturers and only purchase from the better manufacturers in China. That is why we can offer the warranties that we do. They may cost a little more but in the long run they are less expense to own and keep running.